The autoworkers don't have anything to lose with direct to consumer sales ala Tesla, this is purely corporate cronyism which the Republicans are more known for. Downvote me into oblivion but it's the truth, just look at their economic platform; it's between Neo-Liberal and Anarcho-Capitalist but with dash of corporate socialism to bail out the big guys when they fail. The Democrats are guilty of this too but lean closer to Keynesianism and advocate putting some limits on crony capitalism.

Okay, so there must be some justification for this legislation, something that allows the governor to frame the law as something beneficial for the people of the state. I'm just wondering what excuse they used (I'm perfectly aware this is simply blatant protectionism by a crooked and possibly paid-off politician).